Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fine complete example of an all original French brass fire helmet designed in the style of the legendary Adrian helmet pattern that was eventually replaced at the end of WW2. Complete with brass helmet plate of castle with flaming bomb in shield surrounded by oak leaf branches beneath a scroll banner that reads SAPEUR POMPIERS L’HOTELLERE.
The liner is a quality dark brown leather eight finger style with adjustment thong in crown. Complete with adjustable quality leather chinstrap.
This helmet issued to the “Sapeurs Pompiers”. The fire service in France is known as Sapeurs-pompiers.
Pompier (firefighter) etymologically comes from the concept of pumping (water) & refers to the manual pumps that were originally used
Sapeur means “sapper” & refers to the 1st official firefighting unit created by Napoleon I which was part of the military engineering arm
A fine example of a classic fire helmet dating from as early as the Victorian era and up through the Great War.